Islanders

Isles Fail Early, On Power Play, Lose In Edmonton

Edmonton Oilers’ goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) watches as New York Islanders’ Blake Comeau (57) breaks in on net during the second period in Edmonton, Alberta on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ian Jackson)

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EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Dustin Penner had a short-handed goal and an assist for the Edmonton Oilers, who broke a seven-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

Gilbert Brule also scored for the Oilers (13-19-7), who have two wins in 11 games and were in the midst of their worst skid since a 13-game slide from Dec. 31 to Jan. 30 of last season.

Edmonton scored its goals in the first 5:17 on only three shots against goalie Nathan Lawson, who was pulled after the second tally. Kevin Poulin went the rest of the way and stopped all 19 shots he faced.

Blake Comeau had the lone goal for the Islanders (12-20-6), who lost for the first time in four games and fell three points behind the Oilers for 28th place in the NHL standings.

Edmonton is in last place in the Western Conference. New York leads only New Jersey in the East.

Oilers goalie Devan Dubnyk was tested early as Michael Grabner had a breakaway less than two minutes in.

Edmonton took a 1-0 lead 3:22 into the first. Andrew Cogliano’s shot went wide but bounced off the boards back in front to Brule, who slipped the puck through the Lawson’s legs.

Penner put Edmonton ahead 2-0 two minutes later. He beat two defenders for a partial breakaway during New York’s power play and scored with a backhander. That chased Lawson from the net.

Comeau put the Islanders on the board with eight minutes remaining in the second. Rob Schremp fed a pass from behind the net to Comeau, who beat Dubnyk with a quick shot to make it 2-1.

Edmonton caught a break midway through the third as the Islanders had a goal disallowed after the referee blew his whistle.

New York had a huge opportunity with a lengthy two-man power play with five minutes left in the game, but Dubnyk and Edmonton’s penalty killers preserved the victory.

NOTES: It was the only meeting of the season between the teams, who hadn’t faced each other since Nov. 2, 2009, when the Islanders won 3-1 at home. … Oilers rookie RW Jordan Eberle, already expected to be out two-to-three weeks because of an ankle injury, underwent appendectomy on Wednesday night. … Islanders C Frans Nielsen sat out because of a groin injury. … Schremp played his first game against the Oilers after being waived by the team before last season. … New York is 8-10-3 under coach Jack Capuano, who replaced the fired Scott Gordon in November. … Edmonton D Jim Vandermeer left the game because of an ankle injury and didn’t return.